CATCHING Synonyms: 407 Similar and Opposite Words

catching 1 of 2

adjective

ˈka-chiŋ

Definition of catching

as in infectious

capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in spreading

exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease

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catching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of catch

as in grabbing

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door

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as in getting

to become affected with (a disease or disorder) you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot

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as in stopping

to bring (something) to a standstill I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete

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as in securing

to put securely in place or in a desired position caught back her hair with a barrette

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as in knowing

to have a clear idea of I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy

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as in tricking

to cause to believe what is untrue a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story

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as in encountering

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face I'll catch you at the library tomorrow

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as in noticing

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed

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as in chasing

to move fast enough to get even with despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

falling short

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of catching

Adjective

The Braves gained four years and millions of dollars by substituting Olson for Freeman at first base – even though one of those traded was slugging catching prospect Shea Langeliers. — Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2026 The designs are eye catching and beautiful, inspired by South Florida's beaches and ocean water. — Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026

Verb

Those little clues are easy to brush off, but catching them early can give you more time to protect your money, credit and accounts. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026 There was no catching the Redhawks on this night with Hayes playing like a world-beater. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catching

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching

Adjective

Public health experts said the move amounted to extraordinary political interference in the authority of a state health department and an effort to minimize the risks of the highly infectious virus.

— Reuters, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
The patients had gone to UCLA for cancer and infectious-disease treatments, high-risk women’s services, major organ transplants and other specialty medicine care, the association said.

— Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of infectious

Verb

Madrid may have grand monuments, lvish fountains, domed neoclassical buildings and Renaissance squares, yet the Spanish capital has sometimes been overshadowed by seemingly headline-grabbing cities such as Barcelona or Seville.

— Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2026
From a Dooney & Bourke handbag marked down by nearly $150 to a cozy Peanuts Halloween blanket for less than $24, our readers have been busy grabbing all the biggest discounts across fashion, home essentials, travel gear and fall staples.

— Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of grabbing

Verb

Underwood, the five-star recruit from the Detroit area who commanded a multimillion-dollar name, image and likeness deal to sign with Michigan, had completed only 11 passes before getting a last-second reprieve.

— Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The priority, however, is getting Ohtani back to himself on the offensive side before the postseason — whether that means a couple days off or more than a week.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of getting

Verb

Republicans edge out Democrats on keeping people safe, crime prevention, and reducing and stopping violent crime.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026
With Doak’s game clock defunct, ESPN peeled off one of its scorebug operators to shadow the officials, starting and stopping the on-screen time by hand, second by second.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of stopping

Verb

Convention organizers say the gathering in Dallas will focus on the issues shaping the midterms, including lowering the cost of living and raising incomes, securing the border and protecting American values.

— Tamara Keith, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
Rubio used the occasion to hail Noboa and his government’s commitment to securing the country.

— Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of securing

Verb

Bob Howell, executive vice president and chief sales officer at Manhattan Associates, said Boscov’s has a proud history of knowing their customers and communities.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
There is no way of knowing whether other district court judges will rule, as Valenzuela did, on the question of funding connected to Title IX.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of knowing

Verb

An English springer spaniel in Alabama loves nothing more than spending her whole day in the pool and has taken to tricking her parents into letting her into the pool every day.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
In many cases, the robot tail wags the living dog by tricking it—tricking us—into caring about obscure metrics, then gamifying the process of improving them.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of tricking

Verb

Her experience of encountering that building becomes the film in that chapter.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Maresca, however, need not worry about encountering the same kind of spectacular fallout that blew apart relations between Tevez and City’s last Italian manager, Roberto Mancini.

— Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026